Ordinary heroes amid horror

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»Play VideoJCPenney's employee Samantha Dempsey gave refuge to customers in a stock room while a gunman went on a shooting spree inside Clackamas Town Center.

CLACKAMAS, Ore. -- Among the 10,000 people inside Clackamas Town Center during Tuesday’s shooting rampage were ordinary heroes in big ways.

They did simple acts.

A dentist at the mall helping herd customers to a safe hiding spot. Another store employee crowding patrons into a small stock room. And a restaurant serving as a refuge for kids, teaching them how to make pizza.

One of the heroes was Amber Tate. She was shopping when she saw the masked gunman armed with a rifle walk into the mall.

“He looked straight at us, kind of stopped, looked at us and kept walking into the mall,” she said.

Tate had one thought: tell others to stay away by posting a warning on Facebook.

“I immediately said, ‘There’s a gunman in Clackamas Town Center. Don’t go in there,’” she said.

For those inside the mall, JCPenney employee Samantha Dempsey provided refuge to frightened coworkers and customers in the safest spot that came to mind.